Red Axe eBook

The White Gate slowly opened upon creaking hinges.
The faces of the soldiers of Plassenburg were seen
without, the weapons gleamed in their hands as they
came on shouting fiercely. The guards of the Duke
rushed forward to close the gate. But the woman
had clamped the wheel and stood holding the bar.

It was the Lady Ysolinde. She saw me as the soldiers
of Duke Otho closed threateningly upon her. She
waved her hand to me almost happily.

At that moment a soldier of the Black Riders struck
her fiercely with his lance. I saw the white
bosom of her dress redden as he plucked his weapon
to him again. I was in time to catch her in my
arms as the soldiers of Plassenburg, with Prince Karl
at their head, came through the White Gate like a
spring-tide, carrying all before them.

“Karl!” she said, looking gently at him,
“try and forgive me all the rest. But be
glad that I opened the White Gate for yon. I,
Ysolinde, your wife, did it for your sake.”

I put her into her husband’s arms. I saw
at a glance that there was no hope. She could
not live many moments with that lance-thrust through
her breast.

She looked at him again.

“Karl—­say ‘Ysolinde, I love
you!’” she whispered, almost shyly.

He looked down, and a rush of unwonted tears came
to the eyes of the Prince of Plassenburg.

“Ysolinde, I love you!” he made answer,
in a broken voice.

She smiled, and then looked over his shoulder up at
me.

"Hugo Gottfried, have I not saved my soul?"
she cried.

And so passed.

CHAPTER LVI

HELENA, PRINCESS OF PLASSENBURG

There was, however, deadly work yet before the men
of Plassenburg. We found, indeed, that the townsfolk
were with us almost to a man. Their guild train-bands
gathered and mustered at their halls. The guards
at the city gates fraternally turned their arms to
the ground.

“The Prince will restore your ancient liberties!”
I cried. And the people shouted. “Prince
Karl of Plassenburg and our ancient liberties!”

Then we made our way up the street by different routes
to the Wolfsberg. There was little fighting till
we arrived under those vast and gloomy walls.
The Black Riders had disappeared within. Those
worst tools of grim tyranny had early withdrawn themselves,
knowing that small mercy would be shown them by the
people if once the Wolfsberg were taken. But the
common soldiers of the fighting rank, sons and brothers
of the women of Thorn, tore off the badge of the bloody
Dukes and with loud shouts marched with us as comrades.